Chapter 125

Chapter 125: Ashes

“So this is Baiwa City?”

“How’s it different from what we imagined?”

“It’s full of monsters?!”

“Junior Brother! What are you doing?! Don’t be rash!”

On this day in Baiwa City, two or three hundred cultivators entered the city one after another.

They had all come at their sects’ orders to search for treasures.

In their minds, Baiwa City was a frontier town on “unclaimed land.”

But none of them could have anticipated that Baiwa City would look like this—filled with demons! Moreover, these were demons who hadn’t taken human form but still possessed intelligence.

Even worse, these demons mimicked human behavior so well they seemed almost human, just with non-human appearances.

Some sect disciples, sensing trouble, planned to return and report back to their masters.

However, they soon realized they couldn’t leave—they were trapped within a barrier. Cut off from the world, even their flying swords couldn’t break through.

In an instant, Baiwa City became “lively” due to the arrival of these two or three hundred cultivators.

Some cultivators, already disdainful of demon races, especially these untransformed ones, grew increasingly anxious upon realizing they were stuck. They decided to capture a few demons and torture them for information.

Instead, those cultivators got brutally beaten by the very demons they tried to interrogate.

Especially the patrol dogs—those upright-walking canines, though not transformed, were as powerful as mid-level Sea Observing Realm practitioners!

Many cultivators were thrown into jail; some were killed right on the streets.

Others were tricked by pig butchers and ended up as dishes before being avenged by other cultivators who slaughtered the butchers.

For a time, both humans and demons who arrived in this city dared not make any rash moves, each side filled with extreme caution.

Fortunately, aside from its strange residents, everything else about Baiwa City seemed normal, nearly indistinguishable from any ordinary town.

Many newcomers subtly questioned the local inhabitants, hoping to learn about rare treasures.

But everyone returned empty-handed.

It didn’t take long for them to realize one thing—”This place is isolated from the world. Most ‘people’ here know of the outside but have never been there. As for whether ‘Baiwa City’ holds any rare treasures, everyone claims ignorance. The locals even rolled their eyes at the outsiders, implying that if there really were treasures, they’d have taken them themselves. Why would they leave anything for you?”

The cultivators thought the locals made valid points.

As Baiwa City buzzed with activity, Ming and Heavenly Black Goose had already arrived at the courtyard mentioned by Lizard Bro.

Ming knocked on the gate.

Soon, a bipedal fox walked in.

This fox was entirely pink, with a flower on its head, wearing a floral dress, long lashes, and looked quite refined.

“Wow? A human gentleman? How rare! May I inquire what brings you here?” the pink fox smiled.

“Erm, sorry for disturbing. I heard this place used to belong to a human couple. I came to take a look. Is that convenient? Oh, Lizard Bro told me about it.” Ming mentioned Lizard Bro’s name.

“Oh, Brother Lizard, of course, it’s fine. Please come in. Though I’ve only lived here for two years, this courtyard has had many previous owners,” the pink fox said.

“That’s fine.” Ming smiled.

“Then please step inside.”

“Thank you.”

Ming entered the courtyard.

It wasn’t large, just a two-section courtyard.

The place was spotlessly clean, showing how diligent this pink fox was.

“Do you mind if I take a look inside the rooms?” Ming asked. Though the fox was female, entering her room felt somewhat disrespectful.

“Hmm,” the pink fox appeared hesitant but then noticed how handsome this human man was and couldn’t refuse.

“My rooms are a bit messy, but if you don’t mind, you’re welcome to look.” The pink fox nodded.

“Thank you.” Ming bowed politely.

Watching Ming’s elegant demeanor, the pink fox’s tail involuntarily wagged.

The pink fox led Ming to check two guest rooms—one used as a storage room, the other where her sister resided (though her sister was currently at work).

Finally, the pink fox led Ming into her boudoir.

Her room looked no different from an ordinary woman’s—a bed, a table, two chairs, a vanity with a bronze mirror, and some cosmetics.

To be honest, Ming was curious—how does a furry-faced fox apply makeup?

After wandering around for about the length of burning an incense stick, Ming also scanned the room with his Dao Pattern Eye, searching for hidden compartments.

But he found nothing unusual about the room.

Time had passed over a hundred years in Baiwa City, and this courtyard must’ve changed hands countless times. Ming concluded that this place held no clues.

“Goose? (What’s this?)”

Just as Ming was about to bid farewell to the pink fox, Heavenly Black Goose approached a brick near the doorframe with a thin groove.

“This might’ve been corroded by water,” Ming said.

He’d already scanned the entire room with his Dao Pattern Eye, and this groove contained nothing.

“Goose, goose, goose! (But Ming, something feels off about this groove!)” Heavenly Black Goose insisted.

“What do you mean by ‘off’?” Ming asked.

Heavenly Black Goose rubbed its head and fired a wind blade toward the groove. Instantly, the wind blade vanished without leaving a trace.

“Hmm?” Ming paid attention.

Squatting down, Ming placed a small flame powered by spiritual energy into the groove.

The flame immediately extinguished.

It seemed the groove had some sort of sealing enchantment.

His current Dao Pattern Eye wasn’t fully evolved yet and relied on spiritual energy for detection. If this was a small array isolating spiritual energy, he wouldn’t be able to see inside.

“Could you possibly agree to a request—to bring my ashes back to Qingyang Jun?”

Suddenly, Ming recalled Sheng’s words from before.

Ming opened his bundle and retrieved a small jar containing Sheng’s ashes.

Ming poured the ashes into the groove, filling it completely.